Billings, Bozeman or misoula for beauty? (Missoula, Kalispell: live, prices, moving)

[iamhadley]

Can anyone tell me their opinion on which place is more beautiful and scenic: Bozeman, billings or misoula. We would like a place with mountains and patures; really majestic. We are moving from Idaho next summer and we are are retiring. Thanx

[GEORGIAINMT]

Originally Posted by iamhadley

Can anyone tell me their opinion on which place is more beautiful and scenic: Bozeman, billings or misoula. We would like a place with mountains and patures; really majestic. We are moving from Idaho next summer and we are are retiring. Thanx

In my opinion it would be the Bozeman area. The mountains and valleys are gorgeous. But beware....this is by far the most expensive of the 3. Missoula also has some pretty mountains. Billings' closest mountains are the Beartooths, about an hour away. Billings has the sandstone cliffs (locally called "the rims") for beauty and the Yellowstone River valley running through. Beautiful in its own right, it still isn't the mountains you are seeking. If you can afford it, I'd go for the Bozeman and surrounding area.

[Greensleeves]

Wow, I thought most folks retired TO Idaho, not FROM Idaho.

[grizzfan]

Georgiainmt has it about right. Missoula, where I live, is close to many 'pastures' and nice places to visit such as Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Seeley Lake and so forth. But as a town, Bozeman is a bit more scenic and is close to Big Sky and Yellowstone National Park.

If you are a political liberal, you'll love Missoula. I'm not and I don't!! Bozeman is a bit more conservative, but it depends upon when the movie star set is in town!!

Good luck.

[iamhadley]

Thanx to all! We are conservative not liberal so Bozeman sounds good. Bozeman alsosounds like just what we are looking for in terms of mountains and scenery. My husband loves to fish, is there any lakes or rivers near Bozeman?

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by iamhadley

Thanx to all! We are conservative not liberal so Bozeman sounds good. Bozeman alsosounds like just what we are looking for in terms of mountains and scenery. My husband loves to fish, is there any lakes or rivers near Bozeman?

Lots of river fishing.

Be careful to make sure you can afford Bozeman. It's one of the most expensive cities in the state.

[Greensleeves]

Originally Posted by iamhadley

Thanx to all! We are conservative not liberal so Bozeman sounds good. Bozeman alsosounds like just what we are looking for in terms of mountains and scenery. My husband loves to fish, is there any lakes or rivers near Bozeman?

I'm not a liberal by any stretch, and I adore Missoula!

[grizzfan]

I didn't mention anything about Billings. It is by far the most conservative of the three cities mentioned. It's a ways from the mountains but on a clear day one can see the Beartooth Range, the highest in Montana. Lots of fishing in that area. While the Yellowstone River flows through Billings, the good trout fishing is not there, better 50 or more miles West. I would guess that housing prices are more moderate compared to Missoula and Bozeman. Billings is actually a pretty nice town and it should be considered. Lots of job opportunity too.

There are several lakes near Bozeman, one large one near Townsend on the Missouri formed by a dam. Many high mountain lakes to the South of Bozeman.

[ArcticPhoenix]

Originally Posted by iamhadley

Can anyone tell me their opinion on which place is more beautiful and scenic: Bozeman, billings or misoula. We would like a place with mountains and patures; really majestic. We are moving from Idaho next summer and we are are retiring. Thanx

Kalispell. :P

[NYMTman]

Bozeman! Visible from town are the Bridgers as well as the Hyalite and Spanish peaks. The valley is huge, too, giving you sweeping views and a real sense of the largeness of the big sky.

I'd warn that Bozeman is twice as snowy as Billings or Missoula, and a bit colder too.